Algonquin church hosts program on writing up simple ‘Five Wishes’ living will

Submitted by Christ United Methodist Church

Christ United Methodist Church in Algonquin will host a “Five Wishes” presentation at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 25.

Hospice will supply a social worker to explain about the Five Wishes program; the public is welcome.

Five Wishes is an easy-to-use legal document written in everyday language that lets adults of all ages plan how they want to be cared for in case they become seriously ill. It is America’s most popular living will with more than 18 million copies in circulation. It is unique among all other living will and health agent forms because it speaks to all a person’s needs: medical, personal, emotional and spiritual. It helps you express how you want to be treated if you are seriously ill and unable to speak for yourself. Five Wishes also helps structure discussions with your family and physician.

The outline of the presentation is based on the following wishes:

Ÿ Who you want to make health care decisions for you when you can’t make them yourself.

Ÿ The kind of medical treatment you want or don’t want.

Ÿ How comfortable you want to be.

Ÿ How you want people to treat you.

Ÿ What you want your loved ones to know.

Anyone over the age of 18 is encouraged to formalize these questions in case the need arises.

The church is at 9009 W. Algonquin Road, Algonquin. To register, call (847) 669-9009, ext. 2, and leave your name and phone number; or send your name via email to ChristUMC@ameritech.net.